Cataclysta lemnata

Cataclysta lemnata, the small china-mark,[2] is a moth species of the family Crambidae. It is found in Europe (including Great Britain and Ireland),[2] Morocco and Iran.[3]

Cataclysta lemnata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Cataclysta
Species:	C. lemnata
Binomial name
Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758)[1]
Synonyms
Cataclysta lemnae G. W. Müller, 1892 Cataclysta lemnata ab. ochracea Hauder, 1910 Cataclysta lemnata brunneospersa Osthelder, 1935 Cataclysta lemnata confirmata Krulikovsky, 1909 Cataclysta confirmata Krulikovsky, 1907 Cataclysta limnalis Berce, 1878 Phalaena limnata Fabricius, 1787 Phalaena gemmata Hufnagel, 1767 Phalaena Tinea bordella Goeze, 1783 Phalaena Tortrix albana O. F. Müller, 1764 Phalaena uliginata Fabricius, 1794 Pyralis lemnalis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 Tinea marginatella Fourcroy, 1785

Adults of the species are sexually dimorphic.[3] The wingspan is 18–19 mm for males and 22–24 mm for females. The forewings are white. The costa, discal spot and a series of terminal spots are all fuscous. The hindwings are white with scatted pale fuscous scales.[4] Meyrick describes it- The forewings in male are whitish, with a yellowish-fuscous discal dot, traces of lines, and a pale brownish terminal streak; in female pale brownish, ochreous-mixed, with a darker discal spot, lines very indistinct, whitish, darker-edged, a whitish siibterminal streak. Hindwings are white; a dark fuscous discal dot; lines outlined with fuscous, sometimes nearly obsolete, first preceded by a yellow or fuscous spot in disc; subterminal and terminal ochreous lines enclosing a black fascia marked with four bluish-silvery dots. The larva is dark green or blackish; dorsal line black; head pale brown.[5]

Figs 1, 1a, 1b. 1c larvae in various stages of growth 1d larva in natural state in its case, among duckweed (1e)

The moth flies from May to August depending on the location.

Larvae are semiaquatic.[3] C. lemnata larvae have been recorded feeding on duckweed species (including Lemna species[3] and Spirodela polyrhiza[6]), as well as water ferns of the genus Azolla.[3] The species is known to pupate in cocoons[6] or shelters[3] built from plant material.